Description:
Genetic optimization of biomass is
necessary to improve the rates and final yields of sugar release from woody
biomass. Areas that would benefit from genetic optimization include growth rate,
environmental stress tolerance, yields of easily fermentable polysaccharides,
total lignin content, lowering biomass recalcitrance to fermentation, and wood
density.
Successful application of biotechnology
requires both gene discovery and a proper means for gene expression control.
However, commercial use of biotechnology in crop improvement programs is
severely limited by the lack of utility promoters that can drive gene expression
in a tissue-specific or temporally controlled manner. Even though some inducible
plant promoters exist, neither developing xylem cell-specific promoters nor
developing xylem tissue-specific promoters have been identified. Thus, there is
a need for promoters that are specific for expression in developing xylem cells
and in developing xylem tissue.
Michigan State University’s technology
relates to utility promoters for tissue-specific control of plant genetic
expression. The promoter sequences regulate specific expression of operably
linked sequences in developing xylem cells and/or in developing xylem tissue.
The promoters were identified based on their tissue-specific expression and have
been demonstrated to drive gene expression in a tissue where biomass is produced
and accumulated.
Benefits
* Potential to enhance economic
traits in plant via gene expression: The ability to change the phenotype of particular cell types,
providing significant improvements in both quantity (biomass) and quality (wood
density, lignin content, sugar content) of biomass feedstock
products.
* Potential
reduction in production cost: Engineered feedstocks could be
produced to the agriculture, biofuel, and biomass industries at a lower
cost.
* Specific and robust:
The utility promoters have
more specificity and can be applied to tissue of specific interest without
affecting other plant tissues.
Applications
* Biofuel industry:
Much effort in the biomass
industry is already directed at extraction of various biofuels, such as
ethanol.
* Forest products industry:
This technology could
increase valuable plant traits such as wood density, which could increase
production of pulp, paper, and solid wood for building materials and furniture
industries.
IP Protection
Status
Patent Pending
